Preliminary Investigation of Microplastic Pollution in Agricultural Soil in Dong Anh District, Hanoi City

Microplastics are a growing concern in the environments and especially agricultural soil due to numerous negative impacts on the ecosystems and human health. This study aimed to investigate the properties of microplastics (including quantity, shape, size, and polymer types) in five samples (DA1-5) taken from agriculture soil in Dong Anh district, Hanoi using Nicolet iN10 MX Fourier transform infrared (µFTIR) microscope. The study found that the microplastic content in these soils ranging from 494 ± 292 items/kg dry weight to 1031 ± 379 items/kg dry weight. In terms of shape, microplastic fragments accounted for the majority of microplastics found in soil (65% - 86% of the total microplastics). Fifteen types of microplastic polymers were identified in the soil samples, with PET being the most common polymer of 38%, followed by urea-formaldehyde resin of 15%, and nylon of 13%. Microplastics with sizes ranging from 50-150 µm were the dominant group (39% - 57% of the total microplastics). This study provides an initial assessment of the presence of microplastics in the agricultural soil of the suburban area of Hanoi, highlighting the potential risk of contamination that may effect on environment and pose a threat to human health.